Monday, April 18, 2011

Dilworth Paxson Looks to Get Orchestra's Bankruptcy Work

The Academy of Music of Philadelphia Inc., the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and Encore Series Inc. have asked the court to approve Dilworth Paxson as counsel in their Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings initiated April 16.

Lawrence G. McMichael, a Dilworth Paxson partner who worked on the bankruptcy of the parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, will take the lead in the representation.

According to a filing Saturday, Dilworth has already received $319,307 from the orchestra since Jan. 16 for legal work leading up to the bankruptcy filing.

McMichael is requesting court approval to charge his client $750 an hour. Partner Christie Comerford is looking to charge $440 an hour, partner Anne Marie Aaronson will charge $410 an hour, associate Catherine G. Pappas will charge $295 and associate Meryl B. Vinocur will charge $235, according to the filing.

As part of its filing, Dilworth Paxson noted that its chairman, Joseph Jacovini, is a board member of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. It was the board that had to vote to approve the decision to file for bankruptcy.

Dilworth Paxson said it would create a Chinese wall to block Jacovini from any of the firm's work on the bankruptcy, including barring him from being included in e-mails or viewing files.

In other related legal news, Cozen O'Connor filed an entry of appearance on behalf of the Kimmel Center, where the Philadelphia Orchestra performs. Attorneys Neal Colton and Eric Scherling of the firm are representing the center.

According to a filing by the Philadelphia Orchestra of its 30 largest unsecured creditors, the orchestra owes Cozen O'Connor $51,942.

Paul Rosen, Leslie B. Baskin and David B. Picker of Spector Gadon & Rosen filed an entry of appearance Monday on behalf of creditors Peter Nero -- the conductor of the Philly Pops -- and his company Finger Prince Inc.

Gina Passarella is the senior reporter for The Legal. She can be contacted at GPassarella@alm.com. Follow her on Twitter: @GPassarellaTLI